Pipe-cleaning machine.



W. COHEN.

PIPE CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 050.22, 1915.

l 1 96,525 Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

N 3 N m k g WITNESSES l/Vl/E/I/TOH BV a a ATTORNEYS W. COHEN.

PIPE CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-122M915.

A TTOR/VEYS WITNESSES Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WILLIAM COHEN, F BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY.

PIPE-CLEANING MACHINE.

Specificatmn of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

Application filed'December 22, 1915. Serial No. 68,212.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM COHEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bayonne, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Pipe-Cleaning Machine, of

not only the construction of an improved device but the arrangement of various inter-acting pipes and other parts which will produce an improved circulation for thoroughly cleaning and sweetening the pipes.

Another object in view is to provide an improved arrangement of circulating pipes and means for switching the various pipes into operative connection so that the different mediums may be forced through the pipes to be cleaned.

A still further object in view is to provide an arrangement of pipes and supply members whereby a cleaning fluid may be circulated as often as desired through the pipes to be cleaned and then a sweetening medium may be circulated through said pipes.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but looking at the same from the opposite side; Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the construction and arrangement of the various parts and how they are connected to pipes to be cleaned.

In using a device embodying the invention it is aimed to clean circulating pipes for beer or other beverage and to not only clean the same but leave the pipes in what is known as a sweet condition. This necessitates a proper cleaning and removal of the objectionable matter and in addition the treatment of the pipes by some antiseptic and sweetening medium. In the present invention means have been provided for thoroughly removing the objectionable matter and then thoroughly disinfecting and sweetening the interior of the pipes.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, 1 and 2 indicate the pipes which lead to the beer barrels or other barrels containing the matter to be discharged at the spigots 3 and 4. The pipes or coils closed and also valve 18. then opened, said valve being arranged in 1 and 2 are arranged in a box or other receptacle provided with ice, whereby as the beverage passes through the coils the same will be chilled. When using the dev ce embodying the invention the pipes are dlsconnected from the beer barrels and a tube 5 1s slipped over the ends of the pipes, as shown in Fig. 3, so that cleaning fluid or, 1n fact, any fluid forced into spigot 3 will pass through the coil 1 and then to coil 2 through the tube 5, after which the matter w1ll pass out spigot 4 and be circulated or discharged as hereinafter scribed.

After the tube has been connected up as shown in Fig. 3, it is first necessary to circulate a cleaning fluid through the pipes 1 and 2. To do this the beer or other matter remaining in the pipes is first discharged or removed by connecting the pipe 6 to a hydrant or other suitable water supply so that the water may pass through pipe 6 into the case 7 and from, case 7 through pipe 8 to pipe 9, valve 10 being closed. The water passes from pipe 9 to a flexible tube 11 which is connected with a glass pipe 12 which glass pipe carries a short tube 13 adapted to be slipped over the end of the spigot 3, whereby the water passes into spigot 3 and from thence into pipe 1, tube 5, plpe 2 and spigot 4. From spigot 4 the beer and water pass throughthe short flexible tube 14, glass indicating tube 15, flexible tube 16, pipe 17 and finally to a discharge point through valve 18, said valve being open. The water is kept turned on until all of the beer or other matter has been forced out of the pipes, after which it is turned off by closing the valve 19. As soon as valve 19 is closed valve 20 is opened.

The valve 20 is arranged in pipe 21 which connects the air tank 22 to pipe 6. As soon as-valve 20 is opened air will pass from a compressed air tank 22 into pipe 6 and from thence into case 7, and as it passes into case 7 the water therein will be forced out. From case 7 the air travels in the same way as the water heretofore described. The air is kept turned on until all of the water has been forced out through the discharge valve 18, whereupon the valve 20 is A valve 23 is pipe 24 which is connected with casing 7 and with the container 25.- The container 25 carries a cle ning solution of any sultfully del able kind, whereby when valves 23 and the air inlet valve 26 (in the top of the container 25) are opened, the cleaning solution will pass downwardly into the receptacle or case 7. v

In order to hasten the action and to draw into the circulating system a proper amount of cleaning fluid, valve 10 is opened and the piston of pump 27 is raised, whereupon there will be created a rarefaction in the circulating pipes so that a predetermined quantity of cleaning fluid will be drawn into casing 7 and also into pipe 9 and associated parts. Pipe 9 extends downwardly and merges into pipe 28 in which the pump 27 is mounted. Check valves 29 and 30 are arranged on each side of pump 27 so that as the pump is operated the cleaning fluid ma pass from pipe 9 into pipe 28 and throug check valve 29 and from thence into the pump, and from the pump through check valve 30 into pipe 17 The check valves 29 and 30 are arranged so that the circulation must always be in this direction, as .indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3. However, before the valve 10 is opened valve 31 in pipe 32 is closed.

After a certain quantity of cleaning fluid has been drawn in by pump 27 valve 23 is closed and also valve 26. The pump 27 is then operated as long as desired and the fluid is caused to pass from the pump 27 through valve 30, pipe 17 pipe 17, tube 16,

the glass observation pipe 15, tube 14,

spigot 4, pipe'or coil 2, tube 5, pipe or coil 1, spigot 3, tube 13, the glass observation pipe 12, the flexible tube 11, pipe 9, valve 10, pipe 28, and through check valve 29 back to pump 27. A single circulation of the cleaning fluid is usually not suflicient to properly clean the pipes so that the pump is kept in operation until all of the objectionable matter in the coils 1 and 2 has been removed and is being circulated with the cleaning fluid.

Ordinarily the fluid changes color as the dirt and objectionable matter in the coils 1 and 2 is removed, so that when the entire circulating medium has attained a certain color the operator knows that the pipes are cleaned. After the cleaning fluid has been circulated to the desired extent valve 18 is opened and also valve 19, whereupon water will enter the system as heretofore described and will circulate as first described for the circulation of the water, until the system and the coils 1 and 2 have been cleaned-of the cleaning fluid and the matter removed thereby. This leaves a supply of cleaning fluid in the lower part of pipe 9, valve 10, pipe 27 and associated parts. To remove this fluid pump 27 may be actuated a few times, whereupon water will be drawn downwardly through pipe 9 and discharged out from valve 18, thus cleaning these pipes.

and pump 27 and associated parts may be removed by an actuation of the pump While the air is turned on. After all of the water has been removed from the system valve 20 is closed and also valve 18. A mixture of water and ordinary table salt is then placed in the receptacle 33, said receptacle being preferably provided with glass windows 3e so that an observation may be made of how the mixture acts and what quantity is being taken up.

n The receptacle 33 is provided with a cap 35 which must be removed when placing the brine in the receptacle. Valve 31 is opened after the brine has been placed in the receptacle 33 so that the same may pass downwardly to pipe 28, whereupon pump 27 is actuated, causing a circulation of this brine. Any desired amount of brine may be added, as for instance, enough to fill the system half full or entirely full. In any event, the brine is circulated through the coils as described with regard to the cleaning fluid and after the same has been circulated a suflicient number of times valve 18 is opened. If the pump 27 is continually operated after valve 18 has been opened the brine will be pumped out of the system, but usually it is preferable to again turn on the water by turning valve 19, whereupon clean water from the hydrant or other source will drive out the brine. The pump 27 may be actuated enough to clean pipe 28, pump 27 and associated parts. After the pump has been cleaned out valve 19 is closed and the air valve 20 is again opened, whereupon the water will be driven out as heretofore described. This leaves the coils 1 and 2 in a clean sweetened condition, the cleaning fluid having removed the objectionable matter therefrom and the salt or brine having sweetened the pipes. No water or fluid of any kind is left in the pipes as the compressed air drives out all this matter, whereby the pipes are in proper shape for connection to beer kegs or other receptacles. It will be observed that by the use of the flexible tubes 11 and 16 and tube 5 the device may be connected to any beer circulating system without injuring the system or removing any of the parts and that the cleaning and antiseptic solutions may be circulated any desired number of times through the coils. An air pump 36 may be provided, if desired, for supplying tank 32 with compressed air, the same being connected to the tank by a suitable pipe 37 which is provided with suitable air valves 38. In case a compressed air motor is available the same may pump 36 is sufficient, and When pump 36 is used pipe 39 is closed by a plug 40.

In order to make a compact, easily moved device so that the same may be transported from place to place, the various parts are connected up with the air tank 22, as shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 2. This connection may be made by being bolted or riveted direct to the tank or to supporting bars 41 secured to the tank. The bars 41 at their upper end engage and hold in position a supporting band 42 in which the receptacle 25 is positioned. When it is desired to use the device the flexible tubes 11 and 1.6 are connected up to the structure shown in Fig. 1 and the device is moved to the place where it is to be used. lube 5 is then arranged as shown in Fig. 3 and the various cleaning and sweetening mediums are used as heretofore described. It will be observed that by the particular arrangement of the valves and pipes, together with the connecting tubes and associated pipes, means are provided which allow the circulation. of different mediums at different times for producing successive results. Where a cleaning fluid is passed through the coils only once part of the dirt or objectionable matter is not removed unless an excessive amount of cleaning fluid is used, whereas by circulating a cleaning fluid a number of times through the coils all of the objectionable matter therein is removed. In addition, the arrangement of the valves and mem bers which may be switched into and out i of operation permit the cleaning of the be connected to pipe 39 but ordinarily the pipes of the cleaning fluid itself or of the sweetening fluid itself, so that nothing objectionable will be left in the pipes when the same are connected up to the beer kegs.

What I claim is:

. The combination with a pair of coils to be cleaned, having faucets at one end thereof, and a connection between their opposite ends, of a pump,.a pair of fluid pipes leading from said pump, intake and outlet valves at opposite sides of the pump, a pair of connecting pipes leading from said fluid pipes and having attaching members at their ends for engagement with said faucets, one of said fluid pipes at the outlet side of the pump having a valved outlet nipple, a valved supply pipe leading to the other fluid pipe, an air tank and a chemical tank, each having an independent valved connection with said supply pipe, a cut oil valve in the latter fluid pipe between the pump and said supply pipe, and a brine supply tank having a valved connection with the said latter fluid pipe between the pump and the said cut off valve, said air, chemical and brine tanks being connected to one another whereby to form a readily portable apparatus in their connected relation.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM COHEN.

Witnesses:

A. L. KITOHIN, G. H. EMsLrE. 

